Monday Morning Reflections - Ravi Zacharias

Yesterday I mentioned almost in passing the sexual allegations agains the late christian apologist Ravi Zacharias (here is the statement by RZIM).  I have known about some of these allegations for some time and I have said virtually nothing.  In part because I didn't know what to say.  I have listened to Ravi and read some of his writings for years. I make no apologies for having benefitted not only from him and his writings, but from the writings and teachings of others in the organization that carries his name.  His ministry, broadly speaking, taught me that there are intellectually rigorous reasons for believing the Christian message found in Scripture to be true.  In these recent days I have learned another lesson, one I wish I didn't have to learn in this manner.

What is the lesson?  The human capacity for duplicity and deception is almost unfathomable.  I'm talking about Ravi, but I am also talking about me and you.  It's almost as if the apostle Paul was understating things when he wrote, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."  Instead, the verses that preceded that are more descriptive of this capacity for fallenness and evil in the human heart (vv. 10-18).  Ravi travelled the world telling people about the goodness and beauty of the Christian message.  His sin does not change the goodness of that message; instead, his sin proclaims the greater importance of the cross and the resurrection both for Ravi and for the victims of his crimes.  The healing and forgiveness found in the gospel message is what every one of us needs.  

There is another lesson I cannot ignore.  If Ravi can do this, why should I believe that sin is not also crouching at my door (and yours)?  Let's pray for one another, let's make sure as brothers and sisters we are encouraging one another, checking in with one another, and holding one another accountable.  

Ravi was not the first to fall in such a way, the Bible is full of such fallenness.  Whatever surprise we might feel, it is a surprise born of naivety or ignorance of the extent to which we are all fallen people.  Ravi will not be the last either.  There will be more, the impact of sin in our lives will continue to be a battle that we fight until Jesus returns or we go to see Him.  In the mean time we need each other (Heb. 10:22-25).